Travis's solo flight around Fairbanks airport. Just a few more flights / a couple tests and Travis will have his pilots license.

Watching and Learning:)

Have you ever watched a child play? I mean, sitting quietly by without them knowing you are watching? Today I had the exquisite joy of observing two little ones enjoy life to the fullest! They were so blissful! So content! So happy! So joyful! Emmy Grace had her baby in the rocking chair singing at the top of her lungs, "Jesus Loves Me (and you baby)". She kept kissing that baby doll and telling it that she loved it so much! What a beautiful moment...she will make such a great mommy one day! And Wes, playing with his Lego's (by the way, this is what he wants for his birthday! I have a whole list if anyone is interested:) carrying on a whole story! He was oblivious to my presence... totally being himself and enjoying his toys! Do you guys remember those days? Where the thoughts of others opinions didn't rule our lives? Where we would live in the moment and love life with a passion! Around every corner held a new adventure! Each treasured toy held a new story to be played out! Our baby dolls had feelings and needs! Where laughter was always upon our lips! We ran EVERYWHERE...walking just took plain too long! We were young enough to think the only drama in life was played out on Sesame Street! We loved with all we had...never expecting anything in return! INNOCENCE! Being all that God had created us to be, uninhibited by the world and their demands!

Being a mother is such a cherished experience for me. I feel like I get to relive those amazing moments of childhood all over again, through the eyes of my children! And today, God reminded me to slow down and just watch! Enjoy their moments of exploring and fascination! Drink in their pure and unconditional love! Take more time to watch...and yes, learn! They are some of my greatest teachers!

Letting Go!

I've let go...of so many things! I like to be in control...I like to keep the peace, NO MATTER WHAT THE COST...I like to follow the things of the Lord, so long as they line up with my agenda and my comfort zone! But today, I let go of it all! And what a peace that followed! I gave my will and wants over to the Lord...I surrendered the control I've tried to hold over my family back to the One who gave that very family to me! I choose to follow my husband and trust his relationship with the Lord to lead and guide our family where God desires us to be! I've decided to be content! To be happy with where God has me. To enjoy my relationship with my Creator even if where He leads me , no one understands! And to NOT WORRY! God is in control! I thought I would be afraid...but the PEACE! It is so amazing. A quiet, calm assurance that He loves me and my utmost concern in life is to honor Him at all cost!

Fallen

Do you ever feel as though the blessing hand of God has been misplaced!?! I'm having one of those moments...searching deep within and realizing I am the one to blame. I can go about life from day to day and love God, think about Him, pray to Him, speak about Him, but forget to HONOR Him with everything inside of me! And as one day turns to two, and two days to three, time starts creeping by without my Lord as the foremost beginning and end to my everyday! I begin to loose focus on what truly matters...getting lost in the day to day clutter and business that seems to keep this life afloat! The mundane tasks overtake the breathtaking, awestruck awareness that the God of the entire universe, the very God who gave His only Son in my place, the same and one God who breathed life into this vessel of a body, THAT GOD has called me out of darkness...and called me to be His daughter, His child, His love! I've let the devotion that God demands of this soul to wane so thin, my faith become so weak, my love and trust so conditional that I've let our relationship slip right by, unnoticed! And then I wonder, where has His blessing gone? Why can't I see Him in the intricate and intimate details of my life anymore? Why am I struggling to keep my head above water, why am I second-guessing every decision, every event that takes place instead of leaning on His everlasting arms? Because, that is just it, I am not leaning on His arms at all!

But here I am Lord! I am running with all my might back into those precious arms of Love! I need You Jesus! I can't do this by myself! You think I would have learned that by now! But still I become self-centered, self-confident, self-assured that I know what I am doing. But I do not! Not a clue! Please forgive me, my sweet Savior! Help me stand again! Help me stand upon Your promises and not falter! I give You my all Jesus!

Feeding the Baby...

Emmy Grace is SO excited for Anderson Baby #3 to arrive! We talk about it everyday! This past weekend we took a little trip to Anchorage with some friends. Taylor, a girlfriend who went along, has a newborn baby! The cutest thing EVER! Emmy Grace was transfixed on that baby! She watched intently as Taylor would feed the baby, change the baby, kiss the baby...she didn't miss a thing! So, when we got home, Emmy found her baby bottle and informed me that our baby was hungry! I didn't quite understand until she pulled my shirt up and put the bottle in my belly button! "There Mommy, baby isn't crying anymore! I give him a bottle! He is happy baby now!" It caught me off guard but cracked me up! She thinks the belly button is the portal hole to the baby! She believes if she looks hard enough in that belly button, she can even SEE the baby! I'm so excited for her to be a big sister! I think it will be one of her most favorite things in life! Isn't God good to know what we need...especially we think we know best! hehe

Cross Country Flight to the Bush

Travis went on another one of his flights tonight. This time it was to the village of Tanana. It is not connected to any roads and is about 110 miles west of Fairbanks. On the way back I got to fly in the pitch black night. There was not a cabin light, snowmachine light, or city light to be seen for the first 45 minutes of the flight back. I did get to see the northern lights from the air though - That was cool! Anyway, this is a picture of me next to the plane in Tanana. Not much there, only about 100 people live there.

Loving Charlie and Silly Faces~

Just a fun Tuesday night hanging out and loving on Charlie! The kids wanted to make sure he was warm and comfortable! This dog is beyond spoiled!

A BOY!

Just wanted to let the world know...WE ARE HAVING ANOTHER BOY! YAY! We are so excited! Wesley prayed with all his heart that God would put a boy in mommy's tummy! When I would ask him "What if it's a girl?" He would just say..."Mommy, it won't be a girl, cuz I prayed for a boy! And God will answer my prayer!" He has faith! And I praise God for our new little boy soon to enter this world!

Now...if we can only agree on a name! Travis likes "Yetti"...Wesley wants to name it "Rock"...and Emmy likes "Ephen". I like Luke James or Caleb James or Joseph James or Grant James or Samuel James. We shall see what we come up with:)

Miss Beautiful Herself!

I am so blessed to have a little girl! Especially one like Emmy Grace! She makes me laugh, cry and stand in awe of God's goodness all at the same time! She is truly our little princess! Miss Beautiful! And she knows it! She is the center of attention 95% of the time. We all dote on her...even Wesley! Wes told me tonight that if anyone ever punches his sister, Jesus wants him to punch that mean kid back! He said, "I'm suppose to take care of her...cuz she is littler than me!" I"m so glad they love each other like they do! She can't wait for mommy to have this baby! She constantly tries to look inside my belly button to see if she can see that baby! She pats my belly all the time...she will make such a good big sister! We are all so excited!

Snow Time!

IT has snowed so much the past couple of days! Over 12 inches! Our dog gets lost in the backyard! Travis and Wes were trying to shovel our back porch...it is so beautiful but I am ready for spring! Oh, to see green again:) Soon enough I guess!

Travis' Many Projects!

I am so thankful for a husband who is adventurous and lives life to the fullest! Some girls complain because their man hunts too much or fishes too much! They get tired of the many hobbies that boys have! I will have to say, after some wise advice early on in our marriage (thanks to my father-in-law) I have come to appreciate Travis' many endeavors! Jim told me, "Blair, let him go and do. It will make for a happier man which will make for a happier marriage!" And he was right! Travis is a man's man if I ever met one! Granted, his list of hobbies are longer than I care for...but at least he isn't boring! And I have come to enjoy the great outdoors b/c of his passion and love for nature! So...all this to say...ladies, let him play! Let him "be a man"! It is in them...God put it there...and truly, if you enjoy them being happy, they will truly enjoy making you happy as well!

So, here are a few pictures of Travis' many adventures!

PS...the picture of Travis sitting next to the coffee table, he actually made that coffee table for me! For Valentine's day! He is so talented!

Fun Towels!

I am finally getting pictures up tonight! These pics are of the kids after Kristine sent the CUTEST towels for Christmas! They LOVE their cool towels. Only things is, Wesley chases Emmy all over the house roaring like a dinosaur and makes her cry! He says that dinosaurs are much scarier than lady bugs and it is a fun game! Maybe for him...he doesn't go to bed crying and dreaming of scary green dinosaurs! Oh well, boys will be boys!